Bocantes and Marches

If you ever make it to Paris, make sure to go visit some marches (markets) or brocantes. There are a lot down in Puces, which is in the 18e arrondisement. (Arrondisement = zone/district, and there are 20 in Paris, spiraling outward from the center of the city. Also, in France, instead of writing "1st" or "2nd", they write "e" for all "st" and "nd" and "rd" and "th." Much easier, I think.)

As I think I've mentioned before, brocantes are huge flea market things that look like a garage sale of someone's grandma. Marches ("marsh-ay") can be those selling food, so you have fruit, fish, meat, veggies, etc. all around, or others that sell clothes, shoes, jewelry, trinkets, etc. In Puces today there were all of the above, but it's neat because their brocantes are more inside, and are year-round although only open on weekends. The products are EXTENSIVE! It's really fun to walk up and down and look at things, especially with other people so you can exclaim over the extreme ugliness or the exciting choices. You'll also have to brush up on your haggling - it helps to have two of you, as we learned today when you can play off each other and provide support against the crazy vender who won't budge. We saved a lot today, and probably could have saved more but oh, well, it was fun! I especially recommend these brocantes to you, grandparents!